Article: 8 Nights in a Tent
Our adventure began driving to Pisgah Mountain Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway to meet up with the Hilldwellers and SCBrian for a weekend campout. Terri and I had driven some of the Parkway, but had never camped there. I had messaged Bill several days prior to see if a reservation would be required, being the Memorial Day weekend. It turned out that the campground designates several campsites as reservable, but the website showed only walk-in sites as available. Well, off we went fully loaded in the Jeep and the trailer for 8 nights in a tent as we had a second destination on our itinerary: Edisto Island, South Carolina.
Bill phoned me up as we were in route to ask if we would like him to get a campsite for us as the park was quickly filling up. No problem and it was only through Bill’s quick thinking did we have a place to camp that night. After more travel time then necessary due to Google Maps and the Garmin GPS unit competing to supply us with the most ridiculous route to the campground, we arrived around 4:00pm and located Bill to direct us to our site. Now the fun begins.....
Checking out the site and beginning the unloading/setup process.
Yes, I did need a beer by this time.
So.....how do you set up a ten foot wide tent on a nine foot wide asphalt drive?
Like this, of course! 3 stakes driven though asphalt, go up over the curb and drive 5 more through the ground.
I set up the kitchen (I’m the cook) and started dinner while Terri set up the comforts in the tent.
The next morning it started raining which turned to sleet. We had our zero degree two person Grizzly sleeping bag and never even felt the cold. Two young cyclist who were biking and camping the parkway were not as prepared. They relocated from their fair weather camp of hammocks to the men’s washroom and spent the morning using the hand dryer to dry off and warm their chilled bodies.
So for the next three days, we checked out the sights and scenes around Pisgah and its surroundings.
The Cradle of Forestry Overlook.
Funnel Top in the background.
Looking Glass Falls.
A view of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Our last day at Pisgah was Memorial Day, so we explored the campground and watched some movies, ahem...staged some photos, at the park amphitheater.
Relaxing by the fire.
The next morning we broke down camp, repacked the trailer and Jeep, and set off for the Low Country of South Carolina.
We took the scenic route and seven hours later set up camp at Edisto Beach Campground.
After that night’s dinner of grilled veggies and some small steaks, we spent the next day adjusting to warm breezes and the sound of the waves crashing on the beach. Terri read ebooks on the nook and I napped.
Our campsite was under a large live oak and just over the dune was the Atlantic ocean. The temps were in the mid 80s during the day, but the shade of the tree and breezes off the beach kept us cool all day long.
The campground was filled with feathered and furry creatures who were accustomed to people. They would scurry and hop around under tables and chairs looking for anything that was dropped on the ground. Raccoons would invade at night, so the camp had to cleaned and trash hauled away every evening.
This guy had a taste for pita chips.
Look! the elusive woodland elf.
Since I didn’t bring any reading material or toys to entertain myself, I began to get antsy after a couple of days and decided to explore the island in the Jeep.
Let’s try this sandy road.
Oh, now I am intrigued. The Low Country has a long history and this road was a good example of its past.
The road ended at the Edisto river.
The next stop was the Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge.
I wonder what lives in there?
Unfortunately, you cannot drive through the refuge to photograph the wildlife. Foot traffic only, all the roads were gated. You can, however, hunt the wildlife and shoot them. I’m curious as to why it’s called a wildlife refuge.
Back to camp and time to prepare chicken tacos.
Tasty. Yeah, except the cilantro was a cooler casualty.
Sunsets and evenings on the beach were great.
This was also the time of year that the Loggerhead turtles would swim ashore to dig nests and lay eggs, so all lights out after 9:00pm. The Park staff goes out on the dunes every morning to locate the nests and rope them off until the eggs hatch around 80 days later.
When in the Low Country, one must prepare a shrimp boil known as frogmore stew or more appropriately called a Low Country boil, since there are no frogs in the concoction. A broth of carrots, celery, onions, spices, and a jalapeno were simmered. The veggies removed and potatoes, corn, smoked sausage, and fresh local shrimp added to the broth. Served up with a mug of wine and the evening was complete.
The trip home meant we would have to eat lunch on the road. I really have an aversion to fast food, so we agreed to find something off the beaten path in some hometown or local food joint. This proved somewhat difficult as it was Sunday and most of the local places were closed.
We also passed several that were not so appealing.
We did finally find a place that was opened called Heavy’s somewhere in middle Georgia. They are only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The decor can best be described as southern antique, but the barbecue was fantastic and everything was freshly made on site. I think my plate weighed around 4 pounds. Terri didn’t have a chance against a half chicken and sides, so I loaded the leftovers in the cooler and we made a beeline for home.
So we spent 8 nights in a tent going from 5000 feet and sleet to sea level and sand.
Great trip and thanks Bill for reserving that site. It was also a pleasure meeting Brian and his wife Chasity. Darin and his girlfriend were also enjoyable and it was a pleasure meeting them.
-Andy
Our adventure began driving to Pisgah Mountain Campground on the Blue Ridge Parkway to meet up with the Hilldwellers and SCBrian for a weekend campout. Terri and I had driven some of the Parkway, but had never camped there. I had messaged Bill several days prior to see if a reservation would be required, being the Memorial Day weekend. It turned out that the campground designates several campsites as reservable, but the website showed only walk-in sites as available. Well, off we went fully loaded in the Jeep and the trailer for 8 nights in a tent as we had a second destination on our itinerary: Edisto Island, South Carolina.
Bill phoned me up as we were in route to ask if we would like him to get a campsite for us as the park was quickly filling up. No problem and it was only through Bill’s quick thinking did we have a place to camp that night. After more travel time then necessary due to Google Maps and the Garmin GPS unit competing to supply us with the most ridiculous route to the campground, we arrived around 4:00pm and located Bill to direct us to our site. Now the fun begins.....
Checking out the site and beginning the unloading/setup process.
Yes, I did need a beer by this time.
So.....how do you set up a ten foot wide tent on a nine foot wide asphalt drive?
Like this, of course! 3 stakes driven though asphalt, go up over the curb and drive 5 more through the ground.
I set up the kitchen (I’m the cook) and started dinner while Terri set up the comforts in the tent.
The next morning it started raining which turned to sleet. We had our zero degree two person Grizzly sleeping bag and never even felt the cold. Two young cyclist who were biking and camping the parkway were not as prepared. They relocated from their fair weather camp of hammocks to the men’s washroom and spent the morning using the hand dryer to dry off and warm their chilled bodies.
So for the next three days, we checked out the sights and scenes around Pisgah and its surroundings.
The Cradle of Forestry Overlook.
Funnel Top in the background.
Looking Glass Falls.
A view of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Our last day at Pisgah was Memorial Day, so we explored the campground and watched some movies, ahem...staged some photos, at the park amphitheater.
Relaxing by the fire.
The next morning we broke down camp, repacked the trailer and Jeep, and set off for the Low Country of South Carolina.
We took the scenic route and seven hours later set up camp at Edisto Beach Campground.
After that night’s dinner of grilled veggies and some small steaks, we spent the next day adjusting to warm breezes and the sound of the waves crashing on the beach. Terri read ebooks on the nook and I napped.
Our campsite was under a large live oak and just over the dune was the Atlantic ocean. The temps were in the mid 80s during the day, but the shade of the tree and breezes off the beach kept us cool all day long.
The campground was filled with feathered and furry creatures who were accustomed to people. They would scurry and hop around under tables and chairs looking for anything that was dropped on the ground. Raccoons would invade at night, so the camp had to cleaned and trash hauled away every evening.
This guy had a taste for pita chips.
Look! the elusive woodland elf.
Since I didn’t bring any reading material or toys to entertain myself, I began to get antsy after a couple of days and decided to explore the island in the Jeep.
Let’s try this sandy road.
Oh, now I am intrigued. The Low Country has a long history and this road was a good example of its past.
The road ended at the Edisto river.
The next stop was the Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge.
I wonder what lives in there?
Unfortunately, you cannot drive through the refuge to photograph the wildlife. Foot traffic only, all the roads were gated. You can, however, hunt the wildlife and shoot them. I’m curious as to why it’s called a wildlife refuge.
Back to camp and time to prepare chicken tacos.
Tasty. Yeah, except the cilantro was a cooler casualty.
Sunsets and evenings on the beach were great.
This was also the time of year that the Loggerhead turtles would swim ashore to dig nests and lay eggs, so all lights out after 9:00pm. The Park staff goes out on the dunes every morning to locate the nests and rope them off until the eggs hatch around 80 days later.
When in the Low Country, one must prepare a shrimp boil known as frogmore stew or more appropriately called a Low Country boil, since there are no frogs in the concoction. A broth of carrots, celery, onions, spices, and a jalapeno were simmered. The veggies removed and potatoes, corn, smoked sausage, and fresh local shrimp added to the broth. Served up with a mug of wine and the evening was complete.
The trip home meant we would have to eat lunch on the road. I really have an aversion to fast food, so we agreed to find something off the beaten path in some hometown or local food joint. This proved somewhat difficult as it was Sunday and most of the local places were closed.
We also passed several that were not so appealing.
We did finally find a place that was opened called Heavy’s somewhere in middle Georgia. They are only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The decor can best be described as southern antique, but the barbecue was fantastic and everything was freshly made on site. I think my plate weighed around 4 pounds. Terri didn’t have a chance against a half chicken and sides, so I loaded the leftovers in the cooler and we made a beeline for home.
So we spent 8 nights in a tent going from 5000 feet and sleet to sea level and sand.
Great trip and thanks Bill for reserving that site. It was also a pleasure meeting Brian and his wife Chasity. Darin and his girlfriend were also enjoyable and it was a pleasure meeting them.
-Andy
Last edited by a moderator:
